Speaking at
the site of the mini depot, the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr
Maikanti Baru, said it was saddening to make such discoveries in the city
center when
less than 500 meters away, motorists were on endless queues.
The News
Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that hundreds of jerry cans, 200-liter drums,
and 500 liter tanks were uncovered in a sting operation by the team in the city
center.
According to
him, the perpetrators have caused untold pain and hardship on Nigerians during
a crucial season as Christmas.
“In the war
room (where crucial issues are discussed during fuel crises), we asked
ourselves why the situation (fuel queues) persists.
“We got an
intelligence report of these mini depots and as you can see, these golf cars
that are supposed to have 40 litres have tanks that can take 200 liters of
petrol.
“This other
one is a mini depot. Although some of the products are diesel, the DPR says it
is unauthorised. We have over 50 days supply of diesel and so there is no
reason to hoard the product.’’
The Abuja
Zonal Controller of DPR, Mr Mohammed Abba, told newsmen “we have arrested 20
people in connection with those who sell in jerry cans in Zone One alone and
their facilities.
“We are
handing them over to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, because the
DPR has no capabilities to prosecute.
“We will
test for forensic analysis and we will pursue the case to court’’.
Mr Aminu
Abdullahi, Assistant Commandant-General Operations, Nigeria Security and Civil
Defense Corps while receiving the perpetrators confirmed receiving the 20
persons.
“We have
received the suspects and DPR will be called in for forensic analysis to test
what was handed over,’’ he said.
A survey of
filling stations by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in the FCT revealed that
motorists are lamenting the harsh conditions on fuel queues on Christmas Day.
Some of the
filling stations visited by NAN were the NIPCO along Jabi, Oando in Zone 1,
Texaco on the Airport Road and NNPC Mega Station along Zone 1 and on the Kubwa
Expressway.
NAN reports
that though there was presence of security agents in almost all stations
visited, the queues were rowdy with angry commuters screaming themselves down.
NAN also
reports that at the NNPC mega station, the rowdiness was caused by two cars on
an illegal queue that blocked the main queue and insisted on entry.
The presence
of three security agencies comprising a military man, a policeman and a civil
defense man did nothing to intimidate the driver who kept saying ”It is sad
that I have to be at a filling station today.
“My family
is at home waiting for me to come and take them out. This is unfair, sad and
cruel. This is my worst Christmas’’.
At Jabi, NAN
reports that the security men were dressed to the hilt with helmets as if ready
for chaos but there were still very long illegal lines blocking the exit to
NIPCO.
A motorist,
Mr Salau Agidingbi, told NAN, “it is these illegal queues that cause chaos
during crisis such as these. they block flow of oncoming traffic, block the
exit for drivers that have got fuel after queuing up for hours and want to be
served immediately they get into the station”.
At Texaco, a
pump attendant, who did not wish to be named, told NAN “we close at seven
before because of security issues but because of the people traveling we have
to extend our time till 9 p.m. or 10 p.m.
Another
motorist, Celia Tamuno told NAN “this Christmas is horrible. See me here. It is
annoying and the lines are so long. Other mothers are at Wonderland, other fun
places and I’m here. This is heart-breaking’’.
0 Comments